It is important to know that a significant factor contributing to the Platinum Skill is the existence of quasi-divines who have perished while striving for the divine realm. Just the sheer number of Platinum Skill techniques stored in the Hall of Valor implies that countless exceptionally talented demigods have fallen during their attempts to reach the divine level.
Refining Law Power into divine authority is undoubtedly a critical life-and-death threshold! If others were aware of this title, they would likely go mad, desperately wanting to seize it for themselves. Unfortunately, the title system in [Transcendence]/Swallowing Heaven is an independent system; it cannot be traded or dropped.
Although Sterl doesn't particularly need the increased success rate for refining divine authority—he has three divine authority points guaranteed, and in the future, he can forcibly seize divine authority through [Consume]—advancing to become a divine being will be a breeze for him. This does not diminish the absurdity of the title [Champion Demon]!
Consider its acquisition conditions: to slay a divine-level entity while possessing a non-divine body and in a trial arena where one cannot set up formations in advance to gain an advantage. It can be said... that this is a reward that Sterl rightfully deserves.
"There's also room to enhance it further, though I'm not sure what effects the enhancement will have at this point." He pondered, feeling quite pleased. After all, if it's a rarer type of Law like Blade Law, then among the demigods with this ability, those who manage to ascend to divinity and choose to convert Blade Law into divine authority must be exceedingly rare.
Obtaining the corresponding divine authority doesn't guarantee finding a hapless individual to devour. Sterl can only promote himself; will this title be of great use when that time comes?
While he was contemplating, a flash of light appeared before him.
[Great Hero, Future Legendary Demon, you have passed the trial...]
This was all formalities. Sterl was too lazy to read until the next moment.
[You~you~you... Damn it! How could you pass? No! No! What kind of joke is this! My power... No!]
In the previous moment on the hell trial's settlement page, there had been a display of jubilant "Inspire" words. Suddenly, the text transformed into a blood-red hue, resembling strange characters flowing with blood, exceedingly glaring!
Sterl felt as if he were being mentally tainted; if not for the Holy Spirit Bloodline protecting him, he would surely be experiencing some headache. From these prompts, he could sense the wailing and suffering of some existence...
Considering the source of the hell trial, could it be that the Will of Hell itself was screaming?? Sterl was taken aback.
The rewards for completing the hell trial, who would provide them? It must be the energy consumed by this layer of hell. In a sense, it was indeed damaging the Will of Hell. Yet, based on the information Sterl had gathered, wasn't this will merely a chaotic consciousness?
Seeing a powerful demon appear in its territory, shouldn't the Will of Hell be pleased?? Because a powerful demon might have the ability to conquer other lands, allowing the layer of hell to grow continually, thus nourishing the Will of Hell as well.
The Will of Hell is actually resisting because of this?? That goes against its interests entirely! Unless this will can easily discern that Mephistopheles is fundamentally not aligned with this layer of hell and will not expand its territory for it. Such intelligence would far exceed what one would expect from a plane's will!
Sterl grew increasingly perplexed. The more anxious he became, the more pressing the time felt, and the more various enigmas confronted him, leaving him no time to solve them. Fortunately...
The blood-red text was just a minor interlude. Sterl noticed that a code seemed to flash briefly. The hint text was forcibly restored to normal.
[You have passed this trial! Your Trial Shop rewards have increased by one!]
[Defeating a divine-level entity while not being a divine level yourself earns you another reward!]
The battle had reached a stalemate. Although the five gods were being pressured, they managed to hold on by shielding each other from attacks. Meanwhile, the Archduke of Blood showed no signs of holding back, even as his Divine Power extraction reached a critical limit. Suddenly, he gathered his strength and launched a fierce assault!
High above, among the colorful clouds, terrifying power gathered, transforming the entire sky into a realm of thunder and lightning—but that was merely the residual effect of the attack!
Once the energy had fully gathered, the tainted Thunder descended with a vengeance!
"Damn it!"
The Ashen god was the first to notice this scene, taken aback. Previously, they had already observed that the Archduke of Blood, despite being weakened by the Blood of Contamination, showed no signs of slowing down or weakening in his actions. Now, it was even more absurd!
The entire layer of hell was soaked in Blood of Contamination, and even the Thunder produced from the sky was affected. Yet, the Archduke of Blood summoned this lightning as if it were an extension of himself. The other gods looked on in horror, daring not to be hit.
Thus...
They fought desperately!
The Ashen god summoned several flags, planting them around his body to form a very small divine-level formation, emanating waves of energy that neutralized the surrounding Thunder upon contact.
Marlon and the god from the Golden Kingdom, having made prior arrangements, swiftly retreated to the spot where the Golden Kingdom deity had drawn blood force, and spatial fissures began to materialize around them. While these fissures could inflict considerable damage on the gods, they seemed capable of blocking attacks.
The Lord of Evil Spirits opted to disperse his body quickly, frantically floating around to evade the Thunder strikes. However, this tactic clearly came at a significant cost; he had been unwilling to use it even when being pursued by the three main world gods earlier.
Meanwhile, Licitris glanced over to confirm Mephistopheles's position before using her life-saving item. It was a rather ancient talisman, connected below by a strand of gold wire and a copper coin.
As Licitris held it, it emitted a series of crisp sounds.
In the next moment, the rainbow-colored Thunder surged toward her!
Licitris ignited the talisman, and instantly, a mark spread rapidly, enveloping the vibrant lightning. Some of the Thunder was redirected toward the Archduke of Blood, directly impacting his Thunder armor!
Thanks to the talisman's lightning attraction effect, Licitris narrowly escaped disaster and even managed to injure the Archduke of Blood in the process. Originally, the Origin of Chaos should not have been controllable, especially not to strike its own master.
But under the influence of the Blood of Contamination, once the lightning was released, it lost control and transformed into pure destructive and corruptive power!
This particular strike...
In the aftermath of the lightning, the Archduke of Blood staggered, his armor shattered, and the smell of burnt and charred flesh filled the air as his internal organs were affected by the electrical onslaught.
However, after deploying the talisman, Licitris had also expended a significant amount of energy and was unable to continue her pursuit.